Health News

Fat fighting cell Cardiotrophin 1 heads towards testing

Posted Tue, 13 Sep 2011 17:14:00 GMT by Colin Ricketts

Clinical trials will start later this year on a protein shown to fight obesity and diabetes in mice. Scientists working on the molecule, which is already in testing for use in treating liver failure, believe the discovery could be worth millions.

Tests show damage to brain in suffering Gulf War veterans

Posted Tue, 13 Sep 2011 16:17:00 GMT by Colin Ricketts

A new process has enabled scientists to further explain the mysterious Gulf War illness which now affects 25% of all American servicemen involved in the 1991 war with iraq. Since the First Gulf War, veterans have complained of mysterious illnesses which many believe are the result of exposure to chemical weapons and now scientists have found evidence of blood flow abnormalities in the brains of these veterans.

Eat as I eat, not as I say: Lead by example obesity expert tells parents

Posted Tue, 13 Sep 2011 15:28:00 GMT by Colin Ricketts

Just telling kids to eat their greens is not as effective as showing them says an American obesity expert. "Eat your greens," has been the fervent, and often disobeyed, order from parents down the generations. Now, a study from nutrition experts suggests mum and dad would be better off saving their breath and eating by example with a plateful of their own healthy foods.

Fish oil supplements 'should not be used' by those on chemo

Posted Mon, 12 Sep 2011 16:01:00 GMT by Martin Leggett

A study published today in Cancer Cell is recommending that widely-used fish-oil supplements  prized for their high omega-3 and -6 contents - should not be taken by those undergoing chemotherapy. Although these remain a healthy option for those suffering from cancer, they appear to halt the effects of chemotherapy, and may play a role in developing chemotherapy resistance.

Moderate consumption of alcohol could be beneficial for women in later life

Posted Wed, 07 Sep 2011 16:06:00 GMT by Kieran Ball

Research shows that one to two alcoholic drinks each day could have health benefits for middle-aged women. The study suggests that women who consumed small amounts of alcohol on a regular basis improved their chances of avoiding several major age-related ailments, including heart disease and diabetes.

A novel trojan-horse attack to kill tumors, using bacteria commonly found in the soil, is being presented to the annual conference of the Society for General Microbiology, which is taking place in York in the UK this week. The soil-dwelling bug could help to remove tumors without surgery, and may provide new hope to those whose cases are difficult-to-operate.

Findings may prevent oxygen deprived fetal brain damage

Posted Sat, 03 Sep 2011 10:12:00 GMT by Gracie Valena

Scientists have identified a signaling molecule that plays a mediating role in the damage of fetal brains due to a lack of oxygen. They say that this is a step towards preventing such brain damage, which can lead to a variety of physical and mental problems including mental retardation, epilepsy, schizophrenia, autism and cerebral palsy.

Virus shrinks cancer cells

Posted Fri, 02 Sep 2011 12:01:00 GMT by Gracie Valena

Engineered viruses can be successfully infused into a cancer patient's body to selectively infect and shrink cancer cells, researchers show. Twenty-three advanced-cancer patients who had failed to respond to available treatments were infused with an engineered strain of vaccinia virus.

New initiative for early diagnosis of genetic colorectal cancer

Posted Thu, 01 Sep 2011 13:26:00 GMT by Kieran Ball

A new early diagnosis program for the family members of patients diagnosed with Lynch syndrome has been launched in Texas. UT Southwestern and Parkland Memorial Hospital have teamed up to offer a new screening program for families thought to be at risk from colorectal cancer.

Race starts early for ethnic minority students

Posted Tue, 30 Aug 2011 18:09:01 GMT by Colin Ricketts

Even children in elementary school are aware of stigma related to race a new report finds. The youngsters showed the same level of awareness of stigma as adults despite their tender years. The academic performance of such stigmatised children can be improved if they have close friends the authors found.

CVD prevention gaps found

Posted Tue, 30 Aug 2011 15:51:00 GMT by Gracie Valena

Aspirin, statins and diuretics are effective, safe and inexpensive therapies for secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Yet they are underused all over the world, particularly by women, with a marked gap between high-income and low-income countries.

Children's three strategies shed light on bullying

Posted Tue, 30 Aug 2011 15:40:01 GMT by Colin Ricketts

Children chose one of three ways of dealing with their peers says a new report on bullying which hopes to improve the outcomes when adults intervene in childhood conflict. Children who had most social success were those who dealt with relationships by trying to build friendships.

Fruit under pressure - additive-free and more nutritious?

Posted Mon, 29 Aug 2011 19:31:01 GMT by Martin Leggett

Scientists at the annual American Chemical Society gathering in Denver have put a new feather in the cap for a natural additive-free method of preserving food  called pascalization. It seems that as well as knocking microbes for six, this high-pressure treatment can boost levels of anti-oxidants for some fruits, which are thought to be important for good health.

Baby talk opens door on brain processes

Posted Mon, 29 Aug 2011 19:12:00 GMT by Colin Ricketts

Babies raised with two languages keep important parts of their brains open to learning for longer finds a new study which is an important step in showing how our brains are shaped. The speed with which very young children learn languages fades very quickly if not used according to a new research.

Chocs away! Heart disease risk reduced by chocolate

Posted Mon, 29 Aug 2011 15:23:00 GMT by Colin Ricketts

Don't go mad, warn researchers who have found a reduced risk of cardiac disease in those who eat chocolate. Work must be done to reduce sugar and fat content in chocolate products say the Cambridge University team. The team looked at seven recent studies of the effect of chocolate on cardiometabolic disorders which included over 110,000 participants.

Exercise could be beneficial for patients with depression

Posted Thu, 25 Aug 2011 11:26:01 GMT by Kieran Ball

A new study has shown that anti-depressants can be more effective when combined with an exercise regime. Researchers from the UT Southwestern Medical Center have found that when an initial anti-depressant is ineffective, prescribing an alternative medication along with a structured exercise programme can result in a greater chance of remission.

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What are we going to do about energy production, while the Paris Summit on carbon emissions looms in December? While we twiddle our thumbs, global warming is worsening at a faster and faster pace. Each individual on earth needs to act like his personal government and environmental agent, to gain a fuller appreciation of how technology and 'new' thinking can prevent such vast amounts of emissions. Many solutions are being found, but they have to appear this year. Otherwise, the winter in Paris could be uncomfortable in so many different ways.

The future is talked about, the climate is changing, but when will we finally stop the rot. Forests are essential but from Japanese furniture to cardboard and toilet paper, they are still being used illogically and incomprehensibly by people who all know better. The time has come to prevent the disappearance of these trees and all the animals that live in, on and around them. This is a desperate time for us and all the other species around forests.

Conservation is not only about the big animals. The plants, their consumers and the rest of an ecosystem may not catch headlines, but involving them and indigenous populations is crucial to our last ditch efforts to keep these organisms alive in their habitat.

When dolphins are 'rescued' in various countries, the car given seems to be ill-considered. We are simply looking at the success rate which is reported to be low, in most places. They could even end up in commercial aquarium shows, but they certainly rarely make it back to the sea.